P"^ ^1 irsluS 

I A DAUGHTER | 

I OF j 

I THE COMMUNE | 

j A DRAMA 



IN THREE ACTS 



By S. M. B. 



NOTRE DAME. INDIANA. U. S. A. 



A DAUGHTER 

OF 

THE COMMUNE 



A DRAMA 

IN THREE ACTS 



By S. M. B, 



NOTRE DAME. INDIANA, U. S. A. 






,^ 



CASTE 



Louis XVI., King of France. 

Marquis de St. Hual, Captain of the Queen's 

Guards. i 

Robert, Soldier of the Commune. 
Raymond, The Lost Son. 
AntoninE, Friend of Raymond. 
GrEbauIvT, Jailer in the Bastille. 
Oeeicer, Of the Republican Army. 
Guard, Of the Queen's Guards. 
Recorder, Of the Bastille. 
Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. 
Marianna, Protegee of the Queen. 
Madame de Tourzel, Governess of the Princess. 
Madame de BrunnEy 1 Maids of Honor to the 
Madame Ledos ^ Princess. 

Princess Royal, Daughter of the King and Queen. 
Dauphin 

JuuETTE, Housekeeper for Marianna. 
Ladies oe Honor, Guards, Citizens, Rabble, 

Soldiers, etc. 
Time of action, Period of Louis XVI., and French 

Revolution. 



Copyright, 1918 
By D. E. Hudson, C. S. 


'■ 


MAy 20 1918 




©01,0 49694 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 
ACT FIRST 



SCENE I. 

Versailles. A room in the Palace. Governess discovered 
at window in rear. Servants arrange room. LEdos and 
attendants engaged about the room' Enter Princess Royal 
and Marianna from a walk in the garden. Servants bow to 
Princess and turn their backs on Marianna, 'who notices 
the snub. 

PRINCESS ROYAL (arranging flowers in glasses). 
There nov^! Are they not more beautiful than 
yours are? But come, sister mine! We won't 
quarrel. (Puts her arm around Marianna. Both 
come up to C.) I am worn to death with this 
idle life in the sunshine that seems to exist 
forever in France. Marianna, would that we 
two could while away our time as does some poor 
peasant on the Seine. (Both sit, Marianna on 
a stool at her feet.) 
MARIANNA. The low-born are often more wearied 
than those of royal blood, my lady; and the 
unkempt head, bound only with its bright 
kerchief, knows a sleepless pillow as often as one 
that is pressed with a crown. 
PRINCESS (laughing and drawing Marianna ^o her.) 
You are ever talking riddles of late, and they are 
all so melancholy !" I declare you have allowed the 
cruel glances of those ungallant com-tiers to 
affect your pride; did you, sister dear? And the 
rude servants — 



4 A DAUGHTER OF ThH COMMUNE 

MARIANNA (interrupting). They acted but too 
justly: the peasant of the Seine and the lady 
of the Castle— 

PRINCESS (clapping her hands nervously). Stop 
this riddling at once, Marianna! What do you 
know of those low-born things? 

MARIANNA (softly). You and I, my lady; you of 
the Castle and I — 

PRINCESS. What are you saying, sister? (Rising.) 
I declare you are beside yourself. 

MARIANNA (gazing intently on the floor). I thought 
you knew what others know, and take no pains 
to hide. 

PRINCESS (sitting down again). And am I to believe 
all their wild tales? (Marianna nods her head.) 
That you were not born here; that the Queen, 
my royal mother, saved your life and brought 
you here to live? 

MARIANNA. It is all too true, my lady. I owe all 
to the Queen, your gracious mother. When she 
found me I was a lowly peasant, deserted by 
father and brother, and, I may say, totally 
friendless. And now my father, though still 
alive, cares little for me; and I have not heard 
of him personally since my mother's death, 
when he took my brother, and abandoned home 
and friends. 

PRINCESS (eagerly). And your brother too — 

MARIANNA (sadly). Yes, he too leads the same 
mysterious life as my father. (Rising.) But 
enough of this! Your lessons will be neglected 
if I go on with the story of my life. 

PRINCESS. Oh, I care little for lessons! I do not 
see why a princess should trouble herself with 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 5 

them. I will drive to St. Denis to see Aunt 
Louise. 
MARIANNA. Your Governess. (Points to her.) 
PRINCESS. Oh, I forgot! {Turning to Madame 
de Tourzel.) Madame de Tourzel, may I go? 
(The Governess nods her head and begins to 
work.) 
PRINCESS (to Marianna.) Marianna, go quickly. 
{Exit Marianna. Princess arranges her hair.) 
GOVERNESS {after sadly watching the Princess.) 
Certainly, Madame, your orders might be given 
in a more affable manner. I fear that you will 
not always find servants willing to obey such 
authoritative commands. 
PRINCESS {tossing her head). Indeed! Well, I 
think there are many persons in France who 
would be glad to have the honor of serving me. 
GOVERNESS {unconsciously). God grant you may 

never see your mistake! 
PRINCESS. And do you doubt it? 
GOVERNESS. No, Madame. I was only thinking 
that kings do not always 'find such devoted 
servants as your Highness seems to suppose. 
PRINCESS. What mean you, Madame de Tourzel? 

You are as unintelligible as Marianna of late. 
GOVERNESS. I know of a queen whom no one 
w^ould serve, and of a princess wanting food and 
clothing; yet that queen was queen of a great 
kindgom, and the princess a king's daughter 
like yourself. 
PRINCESS. Impossible! A queen and a princess 

can never be poor. 
GOVERNESS {slowly). My words are untrue, eh? 
I— 



6 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

PRINCESS (in a subdued tone). I did not say they 
were untrue, Madame. I meant — 

GOVERNESS. It amounts to the same. Saying 
you did not believe it is equivalent to saying 
it is false. 

PRINCESS. Pardon me, my dear Madame de 
Tourzel! I am as heedless of m}^ tongue as ever. 

MADAME. Now, now, my child! But you must 
have a care; for that manner of yours, of late 
becoming so habitual, will surely turn your 
servants from you and excite the hatred of the 
people. 

PRINCESS. There you are again, Madame de 
Tourzel, admonishing as usual. (Haughtily.) Do 
you know how little I care for the friendship of 
the people? I wouldn't have to depend on a 
single one of them, and — 

MADAME. Will you ever learn, my child, that the 
dignity of royalty is not in haughty pride? 
When God placed you on the footsteps of the 
throne. He strengthened your delicate hand 
for the protection of the people; and, Madame, 
if you shun your duty, let me assure you that the 
people will not be the greater sufferers. (Both 
remain silent for a time.) 

PRINCESS (earnestly). What princess was that of 
whom you spoke a while ago? 

GOVERNESS. The queen was the daughter of 
King Henry IV., and the wife of Charles I. of 
England. The princess was their daughter, 
Princess Henrietta, who at the age of six saw 
her father mount the scaffold, and in her girl- 
hood found herself without a solitary attendant, 
without garments to protect her from the chilly 



A DAUGHTER OP THE COMMUNE 7 

blasts of winter. {Enter Queen, Marianna 
and Attendants from the rear.) Nay, she had 
not even a place whereon to rest her head. 

QUEEN {coming forward). Alas! the bitter history 
I have just heard is too true. May God protect 
us from a similar fate ! You know not, my child, 
that even now the throne of France trembles 
to its centre. 

PRINCESS {embracing her). Dearest Mother, what 
fear you? Are not the people of France devoted 
to my royal father? 

QUEEN. My daughter, the people of France were 
loyal, but they are so no longer. 

PRINCESS. Your face, dearest mamma, betrays 
sad forebodings ! Tell me — ah, tell me — shall mine 
be the destiny of the princess just mentioned? 

QUEEN. No, my child. ' We will trust in God. And 
should we suffer a similar fate {enter Madame de 
Brunney and bows to the QuEEn), we must bow 
to His holy will. 

MADAME DE BRUNNEY {to Princess). Madame, 
the carriage is in waiting. 

PRINCESS. I will not go now. {Embraces her 
mother.) Dearest mother, let not phantoms 
frighten you! I am sure that if ever you stand 
in need of a trusty friend, you will find a thou- 
sand at hand. 

QUEEN. I hope, my child, that your bright ex- 
pectations will never be overshadowed \)y the 
clouds that already lower on our horizon. Retire, 
my child, and God bless you! {Turning to Mari- 
anna.) I would speak with you a moment. 
{Exeunt all btU Marianna, whom the Queen leads 
to a seat.) 



S A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

QUEEN {both seated). Marianna, if it be true that 
the storms of revolution are about to break 
and crush to atoms the throne of' France, if the 
enemies of Louis shall do their worst, what will 
you do? Answer me. 

MARIANNA. My life is at the service of my Queen. 

QUEEN. Watch over my daughter, the princess, 
and ward off what danger you can, as I know 
not what will happen. 

MARIANNA. Yes, the rumors are shocking. It is 
said in Versailles that thousands of armed men are 
this very night preparing to attack the palace. 

QUEEN (anxiously). Are you sure of this? Lafayette 
has answered for the fidelity of his men. 

MARIANNA. That may be, Madame; but not 
e\ten Lafayette can answer for that bloody 
fiend whom the townspeople call "Robert, the 
Wild Boar." Nor could Lafayette himself stay 
the mad rebellion this man and his son are 
stirring up among the people. The whole rabble, 
my Queen, is ravenous for the blood of the King 
and his gracious consort. 

QUEEN. But I will have the guards redoubled. 

MARIANNA. O Madame, they will still be vic- 
torious! You must fly without delay. 

QUEEN. Fly? How in Heaven's name? There is 
not a man in court on whom I can depend. 

MARIANNA. Say not so, my Queen. There are 
some true hearts; one, perchance, you little 
dreamed of ; one nobleman at your gates devoted 
to your interests, if any man can be said to be. 

QUEEN. And who is it, pray? 

MARIANNA. The Marquis de St. Hual, the captain i 
of the Life Guards. 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 9 

QUEEN (hurriedly). Then if you think I can con- 
fide in him, I will send for him to come here at 
once. 

MARIANNA. As your Majesty is not in the habit 
of sending for the Life Guards on business, it 
might awake suspicion. But if you will inform 
the King of what I have revealed and prepare 
him for the flight, I will manage to see the 
Marquis. 

QUEEN. I will go without delay. (Taking Marian- 
na's hands.) Marianna, you are good and loyal 
and true. Help me to save my children. Oh, 
if I had found your brother and father when I 
found you, I should now have three stays to the 
throne of France that all the rebellion could not 
break down; and with three such guardians 
I would not care how many wicked subjects 
surrounded me. But, oh, if misfortune overtake 
me, let me remember your heart was true to 
the last! (They turn to go. Marianna pauses 
and falls into the chair, crying.) 
Curtain. 



lO A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 



SCENE II. 

The Castle Gate. Night. Squadron of soldiers passes 
across stage and out the gate. Shouting is heard in the far 
distance. Shots at great intervals. Enter Marianna cau- 
tiously. Pauses and looks earnestly around through the gate. 

MARIANNA {anxiously, as shouting is heard in the 
distance). What can delay the noble Marquis 
so long when the fate of kings is decided in that 
rabble shout? {Pause — shouts heard.) Truly 
the days of chivalry are long dead, when France, 
the land of virtuous heroes, would force its 
queen to fly, a stranger in an unsheltering land. 
{Sits on the bench.) It seems only yesterday she 
was welcomed to this sunny land {shouts heard); 
and now the soft music of welcome is changed 
into that frenzied cry for her inoffensive life. 
{Enter Marquis hurriedly. Marianna rises.) 

MARIANNA. My noble Marquis! 

MARQUIS. Stay! Hold! 

MARIANNA. Fear not, my lord! It is I, who have 
come, at the Queen's request, to confer with you 
on matters of vital interest to France's crown. 
{Shouting heard. Marianna turns excitedly 
towards sound, then draws the Marquis to the 
bench.) You hear that infuriated mob which is 
to attack the palace to-night, my lord? And your 
lordship is not ignorant of the hatred in which 
the French people hold their Queen. Should 
they reach her, they will kill her; and you, my 
lord," must be her saviour. {He starts up, with 
sword in hand. She catches his arm.) Among 
all the nobles of her court she can find no one 
on whom she can rely, save you, my lord {plead- 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE I I 

ingy as he hesitates); and will you too desert 
your Queen, a weak woman, in her hour of 
need? Must I return and tell her that she was 
mistaken? 

MARQUIS {proudly). No, Madame, not while my 
steel is true. I was surprised that her Majesty 
has discovered at the end of ten years that I am 
a devoted servant. 

MARIANNA. You speak bitterly. I hope you do 
not think the Queen unjust. 

MARQUIS. I, Madame? No! 

MARIANNA. Then, my lord, lay your plans speedily. 
We start for Rambouillet at once. Prepare a 
closed carriage for us, and have it at the garden 
gate in an hour. Send some of your guardsmen 
to protect us on the way, that the safety of their 
Majesties — 

■MARQUIS {scornjully). And does his Majesty, a 
man, also seek his safety in flight? 

MARIANNA. Yes: we start at midnight; have 
all things ready. 

MARQUIS. Madame, assure the Queen of my 
entire devotion. But may I have your name, 
my royal lady, to send — 

MARIANNA. I am no royal lady, my lord, but only 
a very obscure person, — a. poor orphan brought 
up as the King's daughter. Ask for Marianna 
at the Queen's chamber. 

MARQUIS. My poor child, have you no protection 
in this wild state? Well, I am a father who has 
lost his son, — dead perhaps; perhaps, too, he 
is on the streets, covered with rags, while I 
dress in velvet and gold.. It is an awful punish- 
ment, but truly I deserve it. I have made so 



12 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

many suffer that it is onty just that none should 
have compassion on me. But I have been 
humbled, my child; and this heart, that was 
once as hard as iron, has been bowed to the dust. 
I have piostrated myself on the cold flags of our 
churches and besought the Most High to restore 
my boy; but it seems He will never hear my 
voice. {Covers his face with his hands.) 

MARIANNA (consolingly). Do not despair, my 
lord. It may be at the unexpected moment that 
God will hear you. 

MARQUIS (rising). Thank you, Madame, for that 
gleam of hope! Tell the Queen that I shall be 
prepared for her flight at any cost. 
Curtain. 



SCENE III. 

Same as Scene I. Lights and curtains drawn. Shouting 
of rabble is heard. Marianna, alone, weeping. Enter 
Princess and Dauphin. 

PRINCESS. Marianna, I am so frightened! Some- 

thihg dreadful is going to happen. 
DAUPHIN. I heard shouting of furious women 

outside of the palace. Whom do they want? 

If they wish the life of the King, let them take 

mine. Why not spare my father? 
MARIANNA. Be consoled, my children. All will 
. be well soon. God will protect us. (Enter 

Queen.) 
QUEEN. Has vSt. Hual come yet? 
MARIANNA. No, Madame; and it is m.ore than an 

hour since he left here — (Enter an Officer). 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 13 

OFFICER {to Marianna). Madame, there is a 
guardsman at the door who wishes to speak 
with you. 

MARIANNA. Let him enter. (Enter Guard, 
bowing.) 

GUARD. Do you expect the Marquis de St. Hual? 

MARIANNA. Yes. Come you from him? 

GUARD. Not exactly, Madame, but I come to tell 
you what would be well for you to know. 

MARIANNA {turning to the Queen.) Madame, 
here is a man who has news for us concerning 
St. Hual. 

QUEEN. Speak! Oh, tell us quickly! 

GUARD. Madame, the Marquis ordered me to have 
a carriage ready for some persons who were 
going to Rambouillet, and wait at the gate of 
the Park. I obeyed. He came to see if all were 
ready, telling m^ at the same time he feared he 
could not rescue those who looked to him for 
protection. However, he said: "If I am not 
here in an hour, go directly to Mademoiselle 
Marianna, and tell her I am dead or a prisoner." 
The time expired, I hastened in search of him 
and found no clue to him; therefore am I here, 
Madame, to inform you that the Marquis de 
St. Hual is dead or a prisoner. {Salutes her.) 

QUEEN. Poor St. Hual! He has paid dearly for 
his devotion to us. 

PRINCESS. Mamma, do we not leave to-night? 
{Enter King.) 

KI5TG. No, my child. We will not leave for the 
present. My generals assure n;e of safety. 

QUEEN. The will of God be done! {To Guard.) 
Friend, we thank you for what you have done. 



14 A DAUGHTER OF THK COMMUNE 

(Guard kneels, kisses hand oj the King, exit.) 
KING. The people desire we should go to Paris. 

To satisfy them, let us go there. 
QUEEN. All France is against us. We are in the 

power of the people. Let us retire for the present 
' and await the issue. {Exeunt all save Marianna. 

Enter a ivaiting woman.) 
LEDOS. It was a false alarm. The people will be 

satisfied if the King goes to Paris. I hope he 

will consent to go. 
MARIANNA. He has consented. 
LEDOS. I am very glad; for the poor Queen feels 

greatly alarmed. I wish this night was, at an 

end. The streets are one mass of human wretches, 

howling like ravenous wolves. {Great excitement 
• outside. Ledos prepares for flight.) 
MARIANNA. Let us not leave here: our guards 

are faithful. No one can reach the Queen save 

through here; and the sword that reaches 

Antoinette must first pass through me. 
A VOICE. Save the Queen! O ladies, save the 

Queen, — save the Queen! {The ladies rush out, 

and return leading the Queen across the stage, 

as they disappear. Enter the rabble as if in 

pursuit.) 
1ST SOLDIER. The bird has flown. 
2D SOLDIER. The Queen, the Queen! Search 

diligently; let nothing escape. {Enter a man, 

leading Marianna.) 
ROBERT {shaking Marianna). Come, tell us 

instantly where the Queen is. 
MARIANNA. I will not. 
ROBERT. And dare you to refuse! Look yonder at 

the heads of Antoinette's guardsrhen! Are you 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 1 5 

willing to share their fate? {To the Soldiers.) 
Go search for the Queen, and leave this lady 
to me. (Exeunt Soldiers.) So you will not lead 
us to the Queen? You do not know whom you 
are refusing. 

MARIANNA. Nor do I care. You may be that wild 
fiend who is exciting the people against their 
Queen. But I fear you not, nor otherwise do I 
know you. 

ROBERT. But I know 3^ou. Your nam.e is Marianna, 
is it not? Do you remember your father, whom 
you abandoned for wealth and position? 

MARIANNA {drawing back from him). Sir, since 
you are so well acquainted with m.y affairs, 
know that I did not abandon my father; the 
circumstances* that have brought me here were 
purely accidental. I love the Queen as my 
benefactress; while, instead of being rich, I 
am still a poor orphan girl, envied by the little 
and despised by the great. 

ROBERT .• Well spoken, my child! But tell me, if 
your father wishes it, would you be resigned to 
leave this splendid palace and live with him 
in his lonely home? 

MARIANNA. I would be more than resigned: 
I would be happy to do so. 

ROBERT. Even though he had stained his hands 
with the blood of royalty and brought the cry 
of pain to many a lip, — even though he had 
plotted against the life of the Queen, your 
benefactress? 

MARIANNA {hanging her head). He would still be 
my father. 

R0B£RT {exultingly) . Look on me, then, my child! 



1 6 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

I am he, your father, whom unpatriotic men 
have accused of bloodshed and ruin. 

MARIANNA (astonished). My father, an enemy 
to — oh! (fainting.) 

ROBERT (catching her). Be not too severe with me, 
my child. It was all for France and you; and 
the glory of France is above the title of royalty. 
The peace of the home can never brook a tyrant's 
sceptre. Come, let us depart to our home, 
humble though it be. (Enter Raymond.) 

RAYMOND. The Queen is secure. They have 
taken her to prison. 

MARIANNA (startled). And do I meet my brother, 
too, and an enemy of the Queen? 

ROBERT. Raymond, this is yoirr sister. (Raymond 
advances to meet her. She coldly extends her hand.) 

MARIANNA. This is our first meeting since we 
were children, happy together. Look you to the 
circumstances now. , 

RAYMOND. We might have met under happier 
circumstances, but we can not control the 
Fates. We are acting for the good of France, 

ROBERT. Come, let us leave here. The trial of 
separation has been long and severe, — 'it now 
ends. 

MARIANNA. What! I leave here? Abandon my 
benefactress? Never! (To Raymond.) Lead me 
to the prison of the Queen. There let me stay. 

ROBERT. Give up your foolish ideas, child! It is 
impossible to save the crown or him who wears it : 
he must die, the throne must fall. You have 
done enough to show your gratitude. You have 
perilled your life to save her. Then I assume my 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 1 7 

parental authority and say you mtist go, — • 
peacefully, if you will; if not, then by force. 

MARIANNA (aside). What shall I do? If-I refuse, 
they will imprison me also, and all hope of 
saving my Queen wall be at an end. If I quietly 
yield, I may exercise some influence that may 
bring about the safety of my dear lady. {To 
Robert.) Father, hearts are not so easily shaken 
as thrones. You may rightfully command, 
but the body alone obeys. I will go with you 
to your home, but my soul remains here with my 
Queen; and while you war on her you war on 

/ me. By her I stand in spirit; and when your 
guard shall pierce her, your daughter, too, shall 
fall. To you I will be obedient, but faithful 
to her also — and unto death. {To Raymond.) 
Tell the Queen of this, and say that, though the 
father and brother are against her, the daughter 
still is loyal, and will be to the end. (Robert 
and Raymond show surprise.) 

Curtain. 



1 8 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 



ACT SECOND 



SCENE I. 

A Prison. Lights low till Jailer enters with lantern. 
Table, benches, and stools discovered, and a rope hanging 
from the ceiling at the rear connects with the alarm bell. 
Grated window high on back wall, and barred door center 
flat. Enter Jailer with lantern. Two gold crowns in his 
hand. Chuckling to himself. 

JAILER. Well, this is certainly the crowning month 
of my life. {Jingles the coins.) I do not know of 
any king who has been crowned more than I 
have, — ha! ha! ha! {Consumptive laugh.) And 
the month is only ten days old as yet. When an 
honest man is in such an influential position, 
there is always some one to crown him for 
little favors. {Puts hand in pocket and draws 
out a note.) Oho! I had almost forgotten this 
prpmissory note. {Reads it by lantern light.) 
"If you wish to gain a hundred crowns, open 
the shutters for the person who knocks at the 
quay, — eleven o'clock sharp." {Musing.) A 
hundred crowns »f or opening a shutter, when 
most persons receive only a broken one for the 
same offence. Well! well! I know of no one 
given to such owlish prowling since Robert 
"le Sanguinaire" has taken his gentle daughter 
home with him. {Looking about anxiously.) 
There is certainly more than dust on the carpet. 
{Goes to the lantern and rereads the note.) A hun- 
dred! Well, maybe it is to get some one out. 
But, then, I do not know of any important 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 1 9 

person here besides myself, and they can't steal 
me. {Laughs until the clock, striking, stops him. 
He counts the strokes. Eleven. A hundred 
crowns at eleven. {Knocking. He pauses. 
Knocking again. Takes lantern and exit. , Chains 
heard as unbarring door, and then re-enter Jailer 
and two men.) 

ROBERT {roughly). Why so slow, Citizen Grebault? 
Did you receive my letter? 

JAILER. The Republic's greatest guardian must 
act cautiously. Citizen Robert. 

ROBERT. Good! Can you give this man the 
protection suited to his royal state? 

JAILER {shaking his keys.) If he were a bird he 
could not fly away to harm. 

ROBERT. Good again, Grebault! {Slyly.) But 
you will need money? (Jailer nods and holds 
out his hand.) I have a hundred crowns that 
will be yours if you serve me faithfully. 

JAILER. What do you want me to do? 

ROBERT. Find me the darkest dungeon in this 
prison for one who is my enemy. 

JAILER {shaking his head negatively.) Were you to 
ask me to let a prisoner out, I might do it and 
pinch myself out with him ; but to throw a man 
into a dungeon without orders would be no more 
nor less than putting my neck in the halter. 

ROBERT. Who will know you had no orders to 
imprison him? 

JAILER. Why, the Recorders; and then I'd be rolled 
on the mill, to get a trial on the machine invented 
by M. Guillotine. 

ROBERT. I will double the sum if you get me the 
dungeon I desire. I've known men who have 



20 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

been shut up for years without even the governor 
of the prison knowing anything about it. In 
such times who will bring you to account. This 
man {pointing to ST. Hual) is a trouble to me, 
and I want him in a place of safety. Answer me 
at once: will you take the money? 

JAILER {does not answer, but shuts his eyes and puts 
out his hand). 

ROBERT. Go, then; and make haste: there is no 
time to lose. {Exit Jailer. Robert turns to 
St. Hual.) I have been making arrangements 
for your board and lodging; am I not generous, 
Sir Marquis ? You will not answer me ! So like 
all cowards: chapf alien in adversity, proud and 
overbearing in prosperity. 

MARQUIS {rising). I am no coward. It is you who 
deserve that title for insulting a defenceless man. 
You have been dragging me from prison to 
prison, and no doubt have a cruel death in store 
for me. I will meet it with courage. But go! 
Leave me to myself. Rid me of your presence. 

ROBERT. No, Sir Marquis: my presence shall 
haunt you like an evil genius. You reproach 
me with insulting you; but, pray, who began 
this cruelty? Twenty years ago you saw me on 
my knees before you, asking help for my dying 
mother, and you drove me away. You left a 
sumptuous banquet to view the burning of my 
poor hut. That I persecute you now is true. 
I insult you ! That, too, is true. But you wounded 
me in what I held most dear— my mother. I 
will avenge myself in what is most dear to your 
heart: can you tell me where your son is, my 
Lord Marquis? 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 21 

MARQUIS. My son, — my son! Know you aught of 
my son? In mercy tell me where he is! I know 
you ought to hate me, for I did you grievous 
wrong; but since then grief antl remorse have 
blanched my locks. I treated you cruelly ; but 
for that and other faults I have wept and prayed 
' full twenty years, and humbly bowed my head 
to the chastening hand of the God of justice 
and mercy to forgive and restore to me my child. 

ROBERT. Thy son! Twenty years ago I carried 
away your boy. All the gold you so lavishly 
spent could not find me out, poor and powerless 
though I was. I brought up your son a man of 
the people, a republican, an enemy to the King 
and an enemy to his own father, my Lord 
Marquis. The man who prevents your escape 
and threatens you-with death is your son. (Mar- 
quis rises and throws himself into a chair, a picture 
of anguish and despair.) Marquis, this will be 
your home for the present. It is not as well 
furnished as your Castle at St. Hual, but the 
State shall provide for your wants. You will 
have no more use for demesnes, lands or castles. 
Make them over to me by signing this deed 
drawn out according to law. {Takes a parchment 
from his pocket.) 

MARQUIS. I will never sign it {starting from his 
seat). The King shall one day know how you've 
wronged me: he will do me justice. 

ROBERT. The King! Ah, I see you are not informed ! 
Louis will be executed to-morrow, and the Queen is 
in safe-keeping. What power, then, is able to draw 
you from here? Remember, your son, too, is in my 
hands; and his life or death depends on me. 



22 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

MARQUIS. If I refuse you, sir, you threaten to 
kill my son, who of course is innocent in your 
regard — this is not your plan of vengeance. 

ROBERT. Make over your property to my daughter 
Marianna, on condition that she wed your son, 
then he shall live and inherit your fortune. 

MARQUIS {reflecting some time). I agree. (Paper, 
pen and ink are given him; he signs. Aside.) 
So her name is Marianna! Would that she were 
anything like the Marianna that I knew at 
Versailles. {To Robert.) Tell me, are you 
human? {Knocking at gate.) 

ROBERT. No: I am your evil genius, and the end 
is not yet. {Takes paper and J olds it, and puts 
it in his pocket. Enter Jailer.) Take this 
prisoner, and woe betide you if you let him escape ! 
{Exeunt all, opposite directions. JailER returns with 
lantern and keys, as before. Enter again Robert, 
Raymond, Queen, Soldiers and Recorder.) 

ROBERT {to Jailer). We do a pretty fair business 
here. We have brought you another prisoner, 
but you must make ready a chamber of state 
for this one. (JailER raises lantern to face of 
Queen: recognizes her.) 

JAILER. The Austrian!— the wife of Capet! We can 
easily find her a dungeon. 

ROBERT. Come, now: let us proceed to take the 
registry of the prisoner. (Recorder takes the 
registry. Raymond o^ers chair to the Queen.) 

RECORDER {to Queen). Your name. 

QUEEN {rising proudly). Mary Antoinette of 
France. 

RECORDER {startled, throws down the pen). The 
Queen — our Queen! Never! 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 23 

ROBERT (taking the pen, proceeds to register. To 
JaHvEr). The number of the dungeon? 

JAILER. Number 32. 

ROBERT (writes it). Number 32, Marie Antoinette, 
wife of Capet. 

JAIIvOR. That's right! Now let me coop this bird. 
(Enter hurriedly Mart anna and throws herself 
at the feet of the Queen. Soldiers oppose her 
entrance, but she breaks through and rushes to 
the Queen. Robert roughly pulls her away, and 
recognizes her.) 

ROBERT (with fire). Woman! What means this 
treachery? 

MARIANNA (defiantly). Sir, it is not treachery to 
seek the one we love. I have come to meet my 
Queen. (Tears herself from Robert's grasp and 
rushes to the arms of the Queen. Robert tries 
to clutch her but is stopped by Raymond.) 

QUEEN. Thank God, Marianna, that I see you 
again before these cruel men have destroyed my 
life! What can have brought you to this vile 
hole, my dear child? 

MARIANNA (hanging her head). I have come to 
take a last farewell, and to beseech you to forgive 
my father and my brother. (Points to them.) 

QUEEN (with great surprise). Your father and your 
brother? What mean you, Marianna? Marian- 
na sobs.) Well, from my heart I forgive them. 
Marie Antoinette forgives all her enemies; for 
vengeance belongs to God alone. (Raymond 
throws himself at the feet of- the Queen and kisses 
her hand. Robert draws to strike Raymond; 
and Marianna steps between, to avert the blow.) 
Curtain. 



24 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 



ACT THIRD. 



SCENE I. 

A room in Robert's home. Marianna discovered, in the 
garb of the people, caring for the house as any other peasant 
would be doing. Juliette;, with a pan of dough, passes 
in from the garden in the rear and goes into a side room. 
Raymond passes window in a hurry and enters door. 

MARIANNA. God be praised, you have come at 

last! Did you get the passports? 
RAYMOND {coming up center). Yes: but I had 

great difficulties to overcome, and they took 

time. But no' one, I am sure, will suspect me 

now of favoring the Queen and bring her more 

speedily to the tribunal. 
MARIANNA. Little danger of that as yet. 
RAYMOND. Nay , nay, sister ! Be not so sure. They 

have already called her before the Republican 

board, and her trial is begun. 
MARIANNA. And are we too late? I fear if we 

venture to see her now we shall be suspected as 

accomplices, and will save neither the Queen nor 

the Marquis St. Hual. 
RAYMOND {rising angrily). Why are you forever 

planning for that miserable Royalist? What 

interests have you in that prisoner St. Hual? 
MARIANNA. What interest have I in that man? 

Hear me now and judge for yourself. You know 

you are not m.y natural brother. 
RAYMOND {htimhly). Yes, .1 know I am an orphan. 

I know that I have no claims here^. I confess 

that I had only a vague idea of my misfortune. 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE , 25 

Still, I thought that my adoption and my long 
life with your father gave me the right to cor- 
rect you as a brother. 
MARIANNA {starting at the misinterpreted meaning). 
Raymond, I did not reproach you with being an 
orphan, nor rebuke you for your criticism; I 
meant only to tell you that, as you had lost your 
father, your fortune and your name, I, a poor 
girl, have found them. I am going to give you 
back what you lost. 
RAYMOND {still vexed). But how can that bear 

on the Royalist in the Bastille? 
MARIANNA. Hear me a moment and you will see. 
You were born the son of a great lord and the 
heir to a vast fortune. Your father acted harshly 
towards one of his vassals, and that man in 
revenge carried you off, brought you up a man 
of the people, and then imprisoned your father 
where he has pined for three long years. 
RAYMOND {startled). And is that prisoner my 

father? 
MARIANNA. This Marquis de St. Hual, humbled 
and subdued, blighted in heart and broken in 
spirit, is no other than your father. (Raymond 
paces the stage in silence.) 
RAYMOND {turning to Marianna in despair). 
And where is the man who cariied me off, and 
immured my father in prison? Where is he, I say? 
For I must have my vengeance at once. 
MARIANNA {laying her hand on his shoulder). 
Raymond, vengeance belongeth to God alone; 
and he who undertakes to punish the guilty 
lays up for himself a life of remorse, misery, and 
anxiety, that will end only with the grave. 



26 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

RAYMOND {drawing out the passports). Then this 

night shall I join my father in freedom, ^nd then 

{falling at the table in despair) — oh, and I came 

so near killing him with my own hand! {Enter 

Antonine.) 
ANTONINE. Citizen, your orders are obeyed. 
RAYMOND. The Recorder,— where is he? 
ANTONINE. Gone half an hour ago with his two 

aides. 
RAYMOND. And what of Grebault? 
ANTONINE {laughingly). Sleeping like a top. 
RAYMOND {catching him by the lapel). And what 
' is the matter with you. Why, you are more like a 

ghost than a man? What has happened? 
ANTONINE. You have not heard it, then? 
RAYMOND. I have heard nothing. What has 

happened? 
ANTONINE. Ah, sir! 
RAYMOND. Speak! You will kill me with this 

suspense. 
ANTONINE. W^ell, you thought of taking two 

prisoners away to-night, did you not? 
RAYMOND. Yes! What then? 
ANTOISflNE. You can take only one, for the man 

is dead. 
RAYMOND. Dead! Dead? Have they killed my 

father at last? 
ANTONINE. Yes, they have taken our father the 

King to the scaffold this morning. 
RAYMOND. It was the King, then,— King Louis, 

you mean? 
ANTONINE {surprised .at the question). Of course. 

He was so suddenly executed this morning that 

I could not let you know. 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 27 

RAYMOND (breathing a sigh of relief). Oh, hapless 

fate of kings! 
MARIANNA (coming forward). And the Queen, — 

what of her? 
ANTONINK. She is soon to follow, and ere long 

her blood will cry for vengeance on the land of 

France. But come at once. We have no time 

to lose, if we are to see the prisoners to-night. 

(He prepares to go. Raymond and Marianna 

follow.) 

Curtain. 

SCENE II. 

A Prison. (Same as in Act II., Scene I.) Lights low. 
St. Hual asleep, with his head on his arms, supported by a 
small table, on which a lighted taper has all but burned out. 
Enter Marianna quietly, followed by Raymond, who 
carries a lantern. Marianna places her hand on St. Hual's 
shoulder and rouses him. He seems stupefied, and is 
startled on seeing Marianna. 

MARIANNA (softly). My Lord Marquis. 

MARQUIS (rubbing his eyes) . It seems I ought to 
know that voice. 

MARIANNA (laughing softly). Do you forget your 
friends so soon, My Lord? 

MARQUIS (rising). What! Marianna! 

MARIANNA. The same, my lord. I have come to 
speak to you on an important subject. Why 
did you deed all your estates to me, may I ask? 

MARQUIS. Young lady, I was forced to' do it 
without knowing to whom they were going. 
But, since it is to you, I am satisfied; for my 
tide of life is nearly run. I must soon mingle 
with my native dust. O Marianna, I have 
been sorely tried, and I thank God that I have 



28 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

been able to reward you in some way for your 
kindness! I now resign myself into the arms of 
my God, who, I hope, has forgiven me. 

MARIANNA. I have a message of joy for you, my 
lord. Will you hear it? 

MARQUIS. I will hear anything now. Speak on! 

MARIANNA. I have come to tell you that I have 
found your son. 

MARQUIS (starting). My son? Ah, Marianna, 
spare these gray hairs! Mock me not. He who 
had no pity on me would not spare the child of 
my heart. Gladly would I end my days in this 
dungeon if I knew that my boy was yet alive. 

MARIANNA. He does live, my lord; and I have 
brought him to you. He is here in this dungeon. 
There stands your son. (Marqius looks at 
Raymond, and then rushes into his arms.) 

MARQUIS. My boy!— my boy! This moment 
repays all the years of suffering I have under- 
gone. Let me look into your face ! Yes, there are 
your mother's features! 

RAYMOND (anxiously). My mother! Does she 
still live? 

MARQUIS. Thank God, my son, your mother is 
beyond the grief of this world! 

RAYMOND. Come, father! There is no time to 
lose. I ha^e the passports for our escape in my 
pocket. Let us haste away. 

MARQUIS. What! Risk your life now, my boy? 
No! I am repaid, now that my son lives. Leave 
me to my fate in peace. Marianna, be assured 
that now more than ever you have the heartfelt 
gratitude of the Marquis of St. Hual. May God 
bless and reward vou! 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 29 

MARIANNA (coming from the back of the stage). 
Come, my lord! All is ready for our escape. 
You need not fear: all will be safe. I have a 
passport to the dungeon of the Queen. She, too, 
is to come with us. 
MARQUIS (startled). No, no, my child! The Queen 
must die. You can render her no service; and 
your father may kill you if he hears of your 
devotion. 
MARIANNA. I would willingly share her imprison- 
ment or her fate— but, my lord, we have no time 
for parley. 
RAYMOND (taking off his military cloak). Father, 
you will soon be free and happy. Wrap this cloak 
around you. Lead on, Antonine. (AntoninE 
starts.) Lead on to the boat. (A voice: "Back, 
cowards,— back!") Lead on, I say,— lead on 
at any cost. (Robert advances with poniard to 
strike Antonine. Raymond rushes at him, and 
heats him down with a blow of his fist. AnIoninE 
hastens out followed by Raymond and the Mar- 
quis. Marianna follows, but stops and recog- 
nizes her father.) 
MARIANNA (raising her father's head into her lap). 
Oh, it is my father that you have slain! {Dur- 
ing this, GrEbaulT enters cautiously and sees 
Marianna. He comes down to the body and 
at once shrieks a maddened cry.) 
MARIANNA. Man, if you are a man, help me with 

this body! Help me, — help me! 
GREBAULT (wildly). Ay, help you I will, you 
enemy of man, you bloody Royalist! I'll help 
you to shadow your dastardly crime! I'll help 
you! (Laughs like a madman.) I'll help you! 



30 . A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

{He rushes to the hack of the stage and swings on 
the rope. The alarm hell begins to toll. Marianna 
tries to stop him. He hurls her into the corner, 
just as the door is pushed in hy several peasants 
and a few armed guards. From time to time 
during the excitement more people come in to swell 
the crowd. Marianna cowers in the corner and 
"GrEbault stands threateningly over her.) 

RABBIvE AND SOLDIERS {with much confusion and 
noise). What now, Grebault? What now? 

GREBAULT {pointing to the dead hody of Robert). 
There now, — there now! Read there the deed 
that has been done by this daughter of the 
Queen. This Royahst has stained her hands 
with the blood of our leader. 

RABBLE. Death to her! To the guillotine,— to the 
guillotine! {They rush at her just as Raymond 
enters the door.) 

RAYMOND. Stand, you bloodthirsty sons of the 
gutter ! 

RABBLE {standing at his command). Aye, stand 
when royalty has killed the leader of our cause! 
Death to her, — death to her! {They again 
attempt to get at Marianna, who draws closer to 
Raymond.) 

RAYMOND. Back, — back, I command you in the 
name of the Republic! Back! 

GREBAULT {rushing on). He, too, is a Royalist. 
At them, in the name of the Republic! {The moh 
rushes at the two. Raymond wrenches a gun from 
the guard and defends Marianna, fighting his 
way to the door.) 

RAYMOND {forcing hack the crowd). If any man 
touches that woman, he dies. Make way, before 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 3 I 

I cut my way out ! Stand back ! Stand back ! {He 
guards Marianna out oj the door; and then, 
standing with his face to the crowd and his hack 
to the door, he holds the mob off with his bayonet 
while Marianna escapes.) 

Curtain. 



SCENE III. 

A cottage in the outskirts of Versailles. Marianna in 
mourning. Juliette working about the room at anything 
in accordance with her position of housekeeper. Marianna 
sitting before the fire. Door and window open center flat 
on small plot of ground. 

JULIETTE. If I have to stay locked up here another 
month without seeing anybody, I shall die. 

MARIANNA. Trust on, Juliette! Perhaps we may 
not have to hide here much longer. The state 
is rapidly becoming more settled. 

JULIETTE. But what care we for that, with the 
price on our heads? What good would that do 
you if the military should find you? 

MARIANNA. But by this time they must certainly 
know of their mistake. Who could accuse ipe 
of murdering my own father? 

JULIETTE. Who indeed? As if a gentle being like 
my mistress could stoop to so base a deed! 
Your father? Surely it's hard to believe that a 
man like "Robert, the Wild Boar," could be the 
father of yourself. Mademoiselle, — saving your 
presence! I know you are too noble to speak 
a word against him, but I say again it's hard to 
believe such a man could be the father of such a 
daughter. 



32 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

MARIANNA. He is dead, Juliette. Let us say 
naught against him. God, I trust, judged 
mercifully of his crime. I bitterly regret the 
manner of his death, though I never could 
have loved him as a father. Ah, me ! my heart is 
heavy, Juliette! Have you heard aught of him 
who 'was called his son — Mons. Raymond? 

JULIETTE (aside). Ah, that way the land lies! I 
suspect the absence of Raymond has something 
to do with her grief. (To Marianna.) I learned 
by accident, from the farmer who served us 
milk this morning, that Mons. Raymond has 
risen to a position of great trust in the army : that 
he commands the forces of Versailles — but what 
noise is that? (Noise heard at the gate. Juliette 
starts to the door, and meets an Officer entering. 
A squad of soldiers draw up outside in the open.) 
Fly, Marianna, — fly by the hedge to the river! 
Stop at the door, you ungentlemanly son of a 
low-lived government! Stop at that door, and 
don't be intruding your unwelcome self on two 
private ladies that have no protector. (Turning 
to Marianna, who has made no effort to escape.) 
What! Have you not gone yet? Go at once by 
that door! * 

OFFICER. Stay, Madame! We mean no intrusion. 
In the name of the government, I am ordered to 
arrest the lady of the house. (Starts to enter.) 

JULIETTE. What can I have been doing to turn 

the government on my tracks? 
MARIANNA. Juliette, stand aside! Enter, sir, I 

am the lady whom you seek. 
JULIETTE (startled). Marianna. 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 33 

OFFICER. "Marianna." Yes, that's the name. 

{Looking at the paper he has taken from his 
breast.) I am warranted by this writ to deliver 
you to the courts with as little delay as possible. 
May I beg you to prepare at once to accompany 
us? 

JULIETTE {coming forward) . But what has the poor 
child been accused of? It can not be an offence 
to brave men to have a woman stay at home for 
weeks without seeing a soul. 

OFFICER {with a sn,eer). Staying at home to avoid 
the law, eh? Enough of this! Our search has 
been already too long. By order of this writ 
I am warranted to arrest "one Marianna, 
daughter or adopted child of the Queen, for 
maliciously killing the captain of the people 
in the dtmgeon of the Bastille. Said girl — ■" 

MARIANNA {aroused at the charge). I did not kill 
him. It was the purest accident. Would that I 
had died in his place on that night ! He was my — • 

OFFICER {interrupting). Silence! Self-confessed is 
surest proof. {To the squad). Advance! There 
is your prisoner. {They enter and form around 
Marianna, and turn to go, when Raymond 
hurries to the door, dressed' in the ftdl regimentals 
of a high officer.) 

JlJhl'ETT'E {rushing to him) . Ra3^mond! Raymond! 
Save her, — save her! 

RAYMOND {meeting squad as it comes out). Halt! 
(They salute him). Release that prisoner. {Com- 
ing down C.) Officer, what means this intrusion? 

OFFICER {stubbornly). We take our orders from the 
Tribunal in this case. {To the soldiers.) Citizens, 
advance with the prisoner. 



34 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

RAYMOND {drawing his sword). Halt! Who com- 
mands here? You or I? Stand where your are, 
men. {Turning to the officer.) Cite your au- 
thority by which you arrest this innocent girl. 

OFFICER. I arrest her by the authority of a writ 
from, the Tribunal. 

RAYMOND {crossing to htm). Produce it. {To 
Marianna.) Please be seated, Marianna. 

OFFICER {drawing his sword as if to attack Raymond) . 
I'll not stand for this! 

RAYMOND {carelessly pricks the officer's hand with 
his sword, and forces him to drop his sword on 
the floor. Turning to the soldiers). Sergeant, 
arrest this man for insubordination. {Pointing 
to the officer. Two soldiers advance and stand on 
either side of the officer.) Now give me that paper, 
like a gentleman. {He reads it.) AH right now! 
Release him. {He walks over to the officer's sword 
on the floor and kicks it to him. Officer picks 
it up.) This is a false charge. The accused is 
innocent. Depart, and leave her here. 

OFFICE -^v. But the writ is witnessed. 

RAYMOND. Those witnesses lie. 

OFFICE!^-. But I am bound by those orders and 
must execute them. 

RAYMOND {turning on him- angrily and pointing 
to the door). Go! In the name of the Army, 
I command. Go! 

OFFICER {hesitating). But if I return without the 
prisoner, my head — 

RAYMOND. Tell them I would not let* you take her. 
She is not the guilty person. 

OFFICER. By the writ she is. And the witnesses 
swear to it. 



A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 35 

RAYMOND. And I swear she is not.' 
OFFICER. The Tribunal will not take words for 
oaths. I must have some affidavit to prove her 
innocence. (Raymond snatches the writ which 
the Officer has been flourishing before his face, 
and cuts it in two with hts sword. On the back of 
one-halj he writes, and then returns it to the 
Officer.) 
RAYMOND {handing it to him). There is your proof. 

Go! 
OFFICER {looking at the paper, and then at Raymond 
in astonishment). You yourself did this mur- 
derous deed? It can not be. You accuse your- 
self? (Raymond merely nods and points to the 
door.) Sign your title, sir, to give weight to my 
claim. 

RAYMOND {turning away). Sign it yourself. 
Sign it, "Commanding the forces of Versailles." 
(Officer signs it, saUites him, turns to the squad, 
and exit.) 

RAYMOND {crossing to Marianna, laughing). 
Well, Marianna, that was almost as exciting 
as our meeting at the palace long ago. 'Twas 
good I hurried on ahead when I saw the troops 
turn in here. 

MARIANNA {admiring his regalia). What have you 
been doing to win all these honors of late? I 
have seen so little of you. 

RAYMOND {carelessly). Oh, nothing much! A 
soldier need not look for honors. 

MARIANNA {the old Marquis approaches the door 
with Juliette). And the Marquis, how does he 
bear his freedom.? 



36 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

RAYMOND. He should be here by this time. I 
left him only a few paces behind when I rushed 
in on these soldiers of fortune. {He turns to 
the door. Marianna sees the Marquis and hastens 
to greet him.) 

MARIANNA. My lord, you are more than welcome! 

MARQUIS {coming between them)^ You did not 
expect to see us so soon, eh? 

MARIANNA. No, my lord. I thought that, until 
peace was restored in our country, you had 
taken 3^ourself ofif to some foreign clime. 

MARQUIS. No, I could not leave my son, who has 
obtained a high commission in the Army, while 
I retain my right to my titles. 

MARIANNA. Well, you are more than welcome. 
Be seated, my lord. {He sits. She crosses to the 
side door and calls to Juliette.) Dinner shall 
be set for three again, Juliette. We are again 
at home together. {Retttrning to the group, she 
sits opposite the Marquis. Raymond stands 
at the- hack of her chair.) I confess, my lord, I 
never expected to see 3''ou here. You must 
excuse my poor reception. But what could have 
made you leave the Castle of St. Hual and wandei 
away out here? 

MARQUIS. It was gratitude, my lady! We came, 
in the first place, to thank you; for I do not 
forget that I owe you my life, liberty, and, what is 
a thousand times better, the happiness of having 
found my son. We have come to assure you of 
our gratitude, which will end only with the grave. 

MARIANNA {confused). I thank you, my lord! 

MARQUIS {solemnly). And then, again, it was not an 
altogether social visit that we intended. There 



A DAUGHTER OF THE) COMMUNE 37 

was a certain paper that I would rather speak 
of, — 2i document that must be in your possession. 
(Raymond's Htm to be conjiised.) 

MAR I ANN A {innocently, to the delight of the 
Marquis). I know, my lord, the document in 
question was a donation made by you un4er the 
pressure of force, and consequently of no value. 
I have destroyed it, my lord. 

MARQUIS. Then, Madame, I shall have the trouble 
of making out another. 

MARIANNA (startled). No, no, my lord, there is 
no need of making out another! 

RAYMOND (coming forward) . You are right, 
Marianna; it will not be necessary, if the con- 
ditions of the other are still binding. 

MARIANNA. What conditions do you mean? 
I do not understand you. 

MARQUIS (laughing). You ladies have the happy 
faculty of forgetting conditions that pertain to 
yourselves. The conditions, Madame, was the 
one pertaining to a certain bestowal of your hand. 
We have come with the especial desire of asking 
that that part of the contract be fulfilled. (Mari- 
anna astonished.) You remember that part 
now, don't you? Marianna, we w^ould that you 
become my son's wife. 

MARIANNA. What! I wed Louis de St. Hual, the 
heir of a house like yours? Oh, my lord, this is 
mockery ! 

RAYMOND (anxiously). Marianna, it is not 
mockery. To you I am the same as when 
we were children together. Titles can not change 
our relations. Your were my equal then: come, 
be my equal now. Help me share the lot of 



38 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

a soldier of the Republic as we shared our child- 
hood treasures together. 

MART ANN A (softly). Raymond, we were brother 
and sister then, But now — 

RAYMOND. Well? 

MARIANNA. Now we are changed. (Rising.) 
Now, Raymond, I can not. 

MARQUIS (eagerly). Do I understand you to 
refuse? (Marianna stands with her head hang- 
ing, and barely nods in assent.) 

RAYMOND. I knew you never loved me! 

MARIANNA (resenting the inference, slowly and 
significantly). Forgive me, Raymond! I say 
that you are still the same brother to me; but 
were I to become your bride, the bloody shade 
of my father would rise in vengeance. Forgive 
me, Raymond! I can not. 

MARQUIS. But, my child, we can not, will not, 
leave you here unprotected. 

MARIANNA (turning to him). 'Twas you yourself, 
my lord, taught me to murmur not at the dis- 
pensation of Providence. You yourself once 
urged me to bow in silent submission to the 
mighty Hand that strikes. Go your way, my 
lord, and leave me to myself. We will be much 
happier then. 

RAYMOND (excitedly). Your father's fate has 
naught to do here. His doom was from the 
chastening Hand of the Almighty. 

MARIANNA (turning to him sorrowfully). I beg 
you, Raymond, not to say that. He was my 
father, and my resolution is taken. You have 
done well in the Army in the service of your 
country, and I rejoice to see the tricolor in your 



A DAUGHtKR OF ThE COMMUNE 39 

hat. Return to your service, and in the excite- 
ment of the campaign you will soon forget a 
poor girl who by her birth and social position is 
far beneath you. 
MARQUIS. Then, my child, you may set those 
scruples forever at rest. I had not intended to 
tell you at this time what it is now my joy to 
reveal. You are not the daughter of Robert 
who was called the "Wild Boar." On his 
person was found a letter addressed to my son. 
It was written just after he had forced me to 
sign that paper in the Bastille. In it he confessed 
that you were the daughter of a woman he had 
loved in early youth, but who had discarded him 
for a man of higher rank. That man died a 
political prisoner; and on her deathbed, 
widowed and in dire poverty, she sent for 
Robert and begged him to rear her little daughter 
as his own child. The marriage certificate of 
your parents and your own baptismal record 
are here with the letter, and assure all whom it 
may concern that you are of honorable and 
- gentle birth. My child, not a drop of the Com- 
munist's blood flows in your veins; and you need 
think of him no more, save to pray for his 
wretched soul. 
JULIETTE {enters with things for the table, sets them 
down). What did I tell you, Mademoiselle? 
{With liplijted hands.) Did I not say you were no 
daughter of "Robert, the Wild Boar"? {Exit.) 
{The Marquis goes to the window and looks out.) 
RAYMOND {advancing with arms outstretched). 

Marianna, can you not love me? 
MARIANNA. Raymond, my brother! 



40 A DAUGHTER OF THE COMMUNE 

RAYMOND. Nay, Marianna, it is not a brother's 
love I seek. Tell me, can you not love me 
enough to marry me? 

MARIANNA (softly). Yes. 

RAYMOND. My darling! {Folds her in his arms. 
Enter Juliette, who stands in delighted stir prise. 
The two separate as the Marquis comes down the 
stage.) 

RAYMOND {turning to the Marquis). Father, give 
me your blessing. I have won for my bride the 
fairest and noblest maid in France. 

MARQUIS. Bless you, my children! A new light 
rises in my life, as a new light is rising over 
sorrowing France; and my closing days will 
'grow brighter in the presence of my new-found 
son and his lovely bride. Let us praise God, 
who has been pleased to preserve us unharmed 
amid the dangers that have harassed our 
beloved land. 

SivOW Curtain. 



Plays for Male Characters. 



Robert Martin, Substitute Half-Back. A Comedy 

in Three Acts. By Henry Gunstock. (30 cts.) 
The Rogueries of Scapin. A Comedy in Three 

Acts. Translated and Adapted from the 

French of Moliere. 
At the Sign of the Rose. A Drama in Two Acts. 

By Maurice F. Bgan. 
Dark Before Dawn. A Drama in Two Acts. By 

James J. D'Arcy. 
The Miser. A Comedy in Three Acts. 
Kermigild; or, The Two Crowns. A Tragedy 

in Five Acts. By the Rt. Rev. Monsignor 

Oechtering. 
If I Were a King. A Drama in Four Acts. 
The Proscribed Heir. A Drama in Three Acts. 
The Malediction. A Drama in Three Acts. From 

the French. 
The Triumph of Justice ; or, The Orphan Avenged. 

A Drama in Three Acts. 
Christopher Columbus. A Drama in Four Acts. 
Falsely Accused A Drama in Four Acts. 

Adapted from C. H. Hazelwood's ''Waiting 

for the Verdict." 
Pizzaro. A Drama in Five Acts. By Richard 

Brinsley Sheridan. Adapted. 
The Blind Prince; or, The Rightful Heir. A 

Melodrama in Three Acts. 
The Upstart. A Comedy in Three Acts. Adapted 

from "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme/* by Moliere. 
The Prodigal Law Student. A Drama in Five 

Acts. 
The Recognition. A Drama in Four Acts. 

Plays Not Sent for Inspection. 

Price, per copy, 25 cts. 

NOTRE DAME, INDIANA, U. S. A. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




017 199 387 8 t 



